Volvo turns up the gas

GOTHENBURG - Volvo Trucks is introducing Euro 6-compliant gas-powered trucks that offer fuel efficiency and performance on a par with that of diesel-driven trucks, but with far lower climate impact.

The new trucks, the FH LNG and FM LNG, can run on either biogas, which cuts CO2 by up to 100%, or natural gas which reduces CO2 emissions by 20% compared with diesel. This relates to emissions from the vehicle during usage, known as tank-to-wheel.

Compared with current gas-powered trucks available on the market, Volvo Trucks' new vehicles use 15 to 25% less fuel. In order to give the trucks the greatest possible operating range, they run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Mats Franzén, Product Manager Engines at Volvo Trucks, said: "Our new trucks running on liquefied natural gas or biogas produce a far smaller climate footprint than diesel trucks do. In addition, they are much more fuel-efficient than the gas-powered trucks available on the market today. This makes gas more viable as a replacement for diesel even for heavy long-haul operations."